Join in the Fun, Visit the Polish Sailing Ship Outside Vivocity to Celebrate Poland 100 Years of Independence

To showcase Poland and celebrate their anniversary in global public space, the Polish three-masted tall ship Dar Młodzieży (‘Gift of Youth’) has arrived in Singapore – one of the location for part of the ship’s nearly year-long cruise around the world – the ‘Independence Sail’. The Inaugural Port Call was graced by Poland’s Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation Mr. Marek Gróbarczyk and Singapore Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Mr. Khaw Boon Wan.

Photo Credit: Gdynia Maritime University

Starting from today, all members of the public will be able to visit the Polish Sailing Ship berthed outside of Vivocity Promenade. You can bring along your family and friends to visit the vessels, check out the art exhibition and catch other performances.

There will be a number of free activities and events which you can bring along your family and friends to visit the vessel as well as an exhibition titled “Fathers of Independence” and other performances. The vessel will depart from Singapore to continue her world tour on 12 October 2018.

Schedule:

Vessel by General Public 12 PM to 10 PM (10 Oct & 11 Oct)

Art Exhibition – 1 PM to 8 PM (10 Oct), 12 PM to 10 PM (11 Oct)

Shanties performances by ERT Gdynia (10 and 11 Oct )

The departure of Vessel from Vivocity 10 AM – 12 PM (12 Oct)

“Fathers of Independence” Exhibition

Aerial dance performance by the Mira-Art Troupe from the coastal city of Gdansk on the evening of 9 October

The show has been specially prepared to celebrate 100 years of regained independence of Poland. The evening was full of flavor and culture!
Enjoy the performance from the Video Timing 1:23 onwards where they ended it with one of our National Day themed songs.

History

Poland regained its independence in 1918, following 123 years of the partitions orchestrated by its powerful neighbours: German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires. Their collapse in an aftermath of World War One, together with the perseverance of Polish people, led to creating the independent Republic of Poland. During the almost one-year-long “Independence Sail” Dar Młodzieży has been set to visit 22 ports in over a dozen countries around the world. Singapore is among a group of world cities that were selected for this extraordinary port tour. At Singapore, the ship will be at the halfway point of its voyage.

The Dar Młodzieży serves as a training ship for the Gdynia Maritime University and is the first Polish-built, ocean-going sailing vessel to circumnavigate the globe (1987-88). On 20th May 2018, it slipped her moorings and set off to make the Great Circle for the second time in her history. On board, the Dar Młodzieży will be around 150 youth ambassadors from Poland – students of Gdynia Maritime University and national patriotic competition laureates, who will engage with the general public on board the ship, meet with students from the Singapore Maritime Academy, visit Singapore Maritime Gallery and admire other highlights of the Lion City.

In a move to further bilateral ties between the governments of Singapore and Poland, the arrival of the Dar Młodzieży will be complemented by the visit of Mr. Marek Gróbarczyk (First right above photo), Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation of the Republic of Poland, who will hold meetings with Singapore Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan (2nd right below photo) and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources of Singapore Mr. Masagos Zulkifli (center above photo).

The visit of the Dar Młodzieży, as well as that of Minister Gróbarczyk, continues a renewed impetus in the dynamically growing bilateral relations between Poland and Singapore. With the recent launch (May 2018) of a direct Singapore-Warsaw flight by LOT Polish Airlines, 2018 is set to be a significant year in the development of Polish-Singaporean bilateral relations. In the last two years, Poland has significantly broadened its presence in Singapore, among other things by opening a Singapore Office of Polish Agency of Trade and Investment with the aim of bringing here more Polish businesses helping Singaporean investors enter the Polish market. In 2017, the first-ever Polish Defense Attaché accredited to Singapore commenced his duties. In May 2017, Poland hosted the then-President of Singapore, Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam for a State Visit. The visit represented an important step in the bilateral relationship between the two countries, bringing to Poland a Singaporean business mission in automotive, aerospace and biomedical sectors and resulting in three signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) in science and business. Poland and Singapore also signed agreements on cooperation in fintech and construction sector last year. The upcoming signing of the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and the European Union is also expected to ease trade and boost business relations between the two countries.

THE THREE TALL SHIPS
The “Dar Młodzieży” – and her heritage

The “Dar Młodzieży”- Call Sign Sierra Quebec Lima Zulu is one of the most famous tall ships in the world. She is a sailing Ambassador of Poland welcomed all over the world and promoting Polish maritime education and culture.

During her service, flying Polish colours (1982 – 2017), she made 220 voyages, sailed almost 590 000 nautical miles and called at 750 ports all over the world. 19 000 students and trainees from Polish and foreign maritime universities and colleges have been trained on board the ‘Dar Młodzieży”.

The “Dar Młodzieży” has been in service for maritime education for more than 30 years. During these years she trained future seafarers sailing across seas and oceans visiting distant countries all over the world. She participated in the most prestigious tall ship races and operation sails. She sailed across the most severe seas creating the history of the Polish maritime tradition. She had the honour to host crowned heads, government representatives, famous sailors and thousands of tall ship lovers.

Arrival in Singapore

Since her first voyage – Osaka World Sail in 1983, the “Dar Młodzieży” has been participating in all great sailing events. She sailed to Canada for Operation Sail “Quebec 84” to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier’s first voyage to the New World in 1534, she took part in ‘Columbus Regatta 1992’ to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus and finally, in 1997 she visited Osaka for the second time, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the port.

In 1987-1988 she made her round the world voyage – this time it was a visit to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the European Settlement in Australia. There she was welcomed with a lot of warmth and cordiality. The next leg of her track was Horn. At 07.15hrs on 6 March 1988, she sailed around the Horn. During the 274 day voyage, she covered a distance of 36 352 nautical miles.

More than 200 invited guests had the opportunity to experience the flavors of Polish cuisine at the reception organized onboard the ship with the motto, “Independent Poland tastes good.”

The reception is organized by The Embassy of Poland to Singapore and Singapore Trade Office of Polish Agency for Trade and Investment with the support of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the National Association of Organic Producers and Processors “Polish Ecology” and dedicated promotional funds for Polish food products and will be graced by the presence of Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation of Poland Mr. Marek Gróbarczyk and Minister for Environment and Water Resources of Singapore Mr. Masagos Zulkifli.

The special VIP reception has featured flavors of Polish cuisine on its menu. In the spirit of traditional Polish hospitality, the special menu was prepared by Polish chefs flown in for this special occasion and features classic Polish dishes with the use of selected products from Poland, such as beef, pork, poultry and apples. Some of the specially selected dishes on the menu include buckwheat beef and goose praline with onion served on mustard crème sauce; pork tenderloin in green peppercorn, tomato and capers; smoked goose barley soup with mushrooms and root vegetables; as well as a classic Polish apple cake!

About Poland

Poland is a country in the heart of Europe where people and flavors meet at the crossroads of historical trade routes between Europe and Asia. For centuries the Polish kitchen has been the area of competing influences from France and Italy, as well as Germany, but it also borrowed from exotic tables such as Tartar, Lithuanian, Armenian or Jewish. Polish cuisine brings together the elegant flavors introduced by the French court of Henri de Valois, who was the first elected Polish king centuries ago, the wild flavors of the local forests, the sweet and spicy taste of Jewish Sabbath supper and the fierce, rare taste of the sanguineous steak Tartare dating back to the Genghis Khan empire. Traditionally rich and flavorful, Polish cuisine is famous for dishes such as pierogi (dumplings with various fillings), żurek (hearty sour rye soup), pork, beef and potato dishes, though is currently shifting towards a slightly lighter palate. While classic recipes are updated with new trends, an important emphasis is put by the chefs on the quality and use of regional products such as meat, mushrooms, vegetables, herbs and fruits. Gourmands will value the best Polish products sourced from pristine regions where natural environmentally friendly farming methods are being practiced.